This year I spent the winter vacation in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, where my parents were born with many relatives whom I had not seen for 16 years. I enjoyed myself very much. We travelled around downtown Chengdu, then went to visit my grandparents who live in a beautiful village.

However, I found something unusual about this city. Downtown Chengdu possesses an unusual number of teahouses. Initially, I was impressed. I thought Chengdu was a city of profound culture. However, gradually I noticed that most people in the teahouses were actually gambling, not drinking tea.

One day I saw a woman in the street calling for the police. Her husband, a teahouse owner, had been robbed by three young male customers.

I cannot say the number of this type of incidents that happen everyday in Chengdu, but there is no doubt that these events will continue.

The situation is not any better in rural areas. Some villagers spend their entire time gambling. On special occasions, like the Spring Festival, even children are allowed to play cards and mah-jong. I do not know if they gamble at school, but I do know they were happy to win money.

Since my visit to Chengdu, I have not been able to clear my mind of the slogan on a banner that welcomes visitors to the city. It reads: "Let's meet the challenge by developing the West."

I wonder how they are going to accomplish this.

Chen Jin,

Shandong Province